Away from Home

• To protect yourself, and your belongings, make your home look occupied while you are away. Purchasing good locks, lights and an alarm system are good investments in your safety.
• Purchase a timer for your lights, radio and television. Set the timers to turn on lights and radio/tv during the evening to give the appearance that someone is home.
• Don't forget to have mail and newspaper delivery stopped. Nothing says "no one's home" better than a stack of old newspapers in the driveway.
• Take your valuables with you - leave your computer in the trunk while you are at your parents.
• Double-check all window and door locks before leaving, even if it's just for a few minutes.
• Do not have your answering machine message say you are out of town and when you will be returning.

• If your neighbors (or someone on the block) will be home while you are away, ask them to keep an eye on your place and call the police if anything looks suspicious. And do the same for them while they are away. Nothing deters crime better than an aware neighborhood.
• Ask your landlord/management company what security measures will be taken during the holidays. Also ask your landlord what precautions you should take in case of freeze warnings while you are gone - leaving water dripping, etc.
• Make copies of important papers, and let others know where you will be. Leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home.
• Do not tell repair personnel that you will be leaving town.

• Use the buddy system. According to the University of Georgia Police Department, your risk of becoming a victim of crime is reduced by 63 percent if you go out with one other person. Your risk drops by 90 percent if you go out in a group of three or more.
• Don't leave valuables in your hotel room. Most hotels have a safe that guests may use to store important items.
• Don't carry large amounts of cash. Although it might be easy to carry all of your cash with you, travelers' checks are a great option (and they can be replaced if something happens).
• Be careful of your belongings while on the beach. Leave someone you know on the sand with your stuff while you go into the water.
• Use secure luggage tags. All suitcases look the same in baggage claim! Do something to set your bag apart from the rest.
• Be aware of what you can and cannot bring onto an airplane. Even things such as pocketknives and tweezers are not allowed in your carry-on luggage. Film should go in your carry-on luggage.
• You have the right to safety when being pulled over by a policeman. If you are in a dark or unpopulated area when a police car turns on its lights, you have the right to acknowledge the car's presence (by driving slow with your hazard lights on, for example) and drive to a place where you feel comfortable stopping.

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